Celtic are close to completing a deal to sign Ghana international Muburak Wakaso from Rubin Kazan in Russia on loan until the end of the season.

According to the Daily Record, the Bhoys will then have the option of signing the midfielder, on a permanent basis, for £2.5 million at the end of the season.

The 24-year-old will bring a wealth of experience to Celtic Park having previously excelled both in the Russian Premier League and Spanish La Liga.

Spotted playing for Ashanti Gold SC in his native Ghana by scouts from Elche, having impressed for the national team at the Under-17 World Championship in 2005, Wakaso moved to Spain as an 18 year old and went on to play 58 times for Elche before discipline problems saw him released.

A move to the Villarreal B-team followed, with Wakaso impressing enough to earn a call-up to the Yellow Submarine’s first team.

His time with the former Champions League semi-finalists was ultimately cut short, however, after the club suffered relegation from the top-flight.

Fellow La Liga side Espanyol soon snapped the winger up, with the Ghanian star going on to enjoy an impressive single season at the Barcelona-based club, before Rubin Kazan moved for the midfielder.

A tally of two goals in 16 appearances in the Russian Premier League have followed but with Wakaso keen to depart Eastern Europe, a move to Celtic and the opportunity to play Champions League football are thought to have convinced him to complete a switch to the Scottish champions.

An established part of the Ghana national team setup, Wakaso was part of the Black Stars squad that featured at the World Cup in Brazil and previously impressed as part of the Ghana team that finished fourth at the African Cup of Nations the year previous.

Check out this memorable goal from his time at Espanyol.

Jack Beresford

Jack is a 27-year-old writer with experience in writing about sport in a range of guises. He’s something of a statto when it comes to soccer and has a passion for English football at all levels, as well as Serie A and the Bundesliga.